Rain Hat

Hāʻupu is a mountain to the West of Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauaʻi and is the tallest peak of the mountain range that bears its name.  We could view it and some of its sibling peaks from where we were staying during the first part of our visit.  

Hāʻupu has an elevation approaching 2300 feet and tops other surroundng peaks by 600 feet or more.  It was tall enough that it would, on a regular basis, catch a cloud and put on a hat whenever it desired to do so.  Also known as Black Mountain, we discovered that the presence of a hat could actually help us determine if one of Kauai's periodic showers might be possible in the Kalaheo (and perhaps Kaloa) areas.  It even gave us some clues on the weather for Nawiliwili Harbor.

As a matter of fact, there was a bit of a storm on Kauai during the early part of our visit. The west and northern parts of Kauai saw wind damage.  At our location, in the southeast, we got somewhere in the neighborhood of three inches of rain.  There was even some rare (for Kauai) thunder and lightning.

Being a large weather system, the clouds that mattered approached us from the west.  Typically, when there isn't a strong system, the prevailing pattern is for the clouds to come over the island from the north/northeast.  The moisture cools and condenses as it climbs the dormant volcano.  What's left might land as a hat on Hāʻupu, possibly indicating that there is enough left to give rain to this part of the island.

Well, with this storm system, Black Mountain gave notice to those of us to its east that the rain was coming.  The rain hat would extend down over Ha'upu's head and then cover its shoulders. 

Eventually, the entirety of the mountain would be covered.  That's when we knew the rain was imminent.  It was time to seek shelter, unless you were interested in spending time getting very damp.

There have been many times in our lives where we haven't minded being caught in the rain.  There have been several others where we DID mind, but we got caught in it anyway.  For that matter, work on the farm rarely halts when the rain comes - but it's a different matter if there is a storm that packs some lightning.  And this storm featured enough of that to make the weather-respecting farmers spend a day or so inside. 

Hāʻupu is also the name of a legendary chief on Kauai.  One story tells of a time that this person was sleeping on a mountain that overlooked the ocean channel between Oahu and Kauai.  This vantage point gave Hāʻupu the opportunity to spy any invading force from the other island and provide time to prepare.

On this particular night, Hāʻupu was awoken by the sound of many people on the water.  Thinking it might be an invading force, he tore out a great rock from the mountain face and hurled it towards the boats, landing in their center, where the chief Kaena was in his boat, surrounded by his people out for a night's fishing expedition.

Chief Kaena and many of his people died and the rock was large enough to throw sand up and create what is now Kaena Point on Oahu.

The mountain can also be seen in all its glory as it stands in the background over the Menehune Fish Ponds.  

As with all things that have great history, there are several stories related to it.  For example, Pohaku O Kauai (the Rock of Kauai) that was thrown in the story about Ha`upa, is also explained by another story.  Maui sought to use his magic hook to pull Kauai closer to Oahu and combine the islands.  However, a large rock broke away from Kauai and landed at his feet and the rest of the island remained where it was.

It is also said that the profile of a beautiful woman is carved on this mountain (Hāʻupu).  The British renamed it after their queen, but one Hawaiian story tells of Hinaiuka (or Hina), who was memorialized for winning a contest of beauty by having her imaged carved here.

And there you are, your stories of Kauai for the day.  Have a good remainder of yours!